Pipe coating apparatus



Oct. 11, 1938.

p. w. BOYLAN ET AL PIPE comma APPARATUS Filed Oct. 28, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENT OR.

BY Cll'fior fiMara/n f ATTORNEY.

- D. w. BOYLAN Er AL PIPE comma APPARATUS Filed Oct 2a, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ag/a n ora 1 h ATTORNEY. 4

INVENTOR.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan vl'd M Boy/cup, 0//3"f0rd F. Mora/n,

p. w. BOYI AN ET AL PIPE COATING APPARATUS Fil'ed Oct. 28, 1936 mm ii11: III] III Illlllllll. IF

|I|||||||||| .xliiliiiilizf Oct. 11, 1938.

ORNEY/ 7 Oct; 11,1938. D; w. BOMYLAN El AL. 2,133,013

PIPE COATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 28, 1936 w David "(.3

Ora/re,

0 BY award r. 5

TYTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 11, 1938 UNITED STATES 7 2,133,013 PIPE COATING APPARATUSDavid W. Boylan, San Francisco, Calif., and 0111- ford F. Morain,Youngstown, Ohio, assignors to General Paint Corporation, Calif., acorporation of Nevada San Francisco,

Application October 28, 1936, Serial No. 108,108

20 Claims.

The invention relates to the art of pipe coating and has for an objectto provide novel apparatus by employment of which the coating materialmay be allowed to flow-gently onto the surfaceto-be-coated, withoutforce, pressure or turbulence, and while still in its wet or plasticform,

smoothed out or ironed so as to entirely eliminate from the appliedcoating tiny air bubbles, skips or voids, thus assuring against surfaceimperfections.

It is well known that pipes and tubing formed of known materials aresubject to rust and corrosion, and that piping adapted for waterconduits, either steel, cast iron or concrete, when used withoutsuitable internal pre-treatment, is subject to the formation oftubercles. Tuberculation is no small factor to be considered byengineers in constructing water lines. .Records are available which showthat the supply of water to a city can be reduced as much as by reasonof the constriction of the internal diameter of the conduit by tubercleformation. According to one popular method of pipe coating the interiorsof pipes are given-a heavy coatingof bituminous enamel which is appliedhot and ultimately forms a very smooth lining such as will definitelyprevent tuberculation' and reduce to a minimum frictional resistance tofluid flow.

Coatings 'of any nature, internal or external, and particularly hotviscid coatings of the character above alluded to, are subject to airbubble formation, especially where any turbulence is setup incident tothe application thereof, andthe resultant air pocket formations providesurface imperfections in the finished product. Moreover, when thecoating is applied in the form of a helical ribbon, as disclosed inapplication for Letters Patent, Serial No. 108,105, filed by David W.Boylan on October 28, 1936, there is a tendency to produce a rifledeffect.

In its more detailed nature, therefore, the invention has for an objectto provide a novel coating applicator structure including an overflowlip or ledge from which the coating material may gently flow onto thesurface-to-be-coated, said applicator being constructed in a novelmannet and including novel coating material inflow and outflowcontrolling equipment all constructed and arranged to avoid turbulencein the coat- -ing material and for facilitating the elimination of airbubbles.

Another object of the invention isto provide a coating ironer structureand to;inount the same 3' in novel correlation with the applicatorwhereby 55 to engage the coated surfaceimmediately after the coating isapplied to press out any air pockets which may have formed therein andto so smooth the surface as to avoid formation of surface imperfectionsand assure the smooth, unbroken finished appearance desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby theapplicator, the ironer and the means for supplying coating material tothe applicator can be heated, preferably to substantially the sametemperature.

Another object of the invention is to provide means wherebythe relationof the applicator and the ironer may be adjusted. Anotherobiect of theinvention is to provide means for adjusting the fiow outlet from theapplicator.

With the above and other objects in view which will hereinafter appear,the invention further resides in the novel details of construction,combination and arrangement of parts, all of which'will be first fullydescribed in the following detailed description, then particularlypointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to theaccompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation illustrating theinvention applied to an apparatus for coating pipes in the field, partsbeing in longitudinal section.

Figure 2 is a left end view.

Figure 3 is a right end'elevation.

Figure- 4" is an enlarged left end elevation of the apparatus shown inFigure 1 with an ironer applied thereto, parts being broken away and insection.

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus shown inFigure 1.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic ,plan view illustrating the" apparatus ofFigure 4 in use for coating the interior of a pipe, the pipe being shownin horizontal section.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figures 4 and 5.

' Figure 8 is an inverted plan view illustratin the invention applied toanother form of apparatus peculiarly adapted to the lining of pipes,means forheating the applicator, the ironer and the coating supply meansbeing illustrated somewhat diagrammatically.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the parts shown. in Figure 8. Y

Figure 10 is a left end view of the parts shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a vertical longitudinal section of the applicator shown inFigure 9.

Figure 12 is'a vertical cross section of the applicator shown in Figure11.

Figure 13 is an enlarged'detail vertical cross section illustrating anadjustable lip for the applicator.

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic fragmentary endview illustrating theinvention positioned upon an external surface of a pipe.

The invention is adapted to use in various forms of pipe coatingapparatus. In this disclosure we have illustrated the adaptation of theinvention to two such forms of apparatus, being those disclosed inapplications for patent Serial No. 108,110, filed by David W. Boylan,Clifford F. Morain, and Otto R. Bowman on October 28, 1936, and SerialNo. 108,106, filed by Clifford F. Morain on October 28, 1936, and eachof which is capable of practicing the novel method of pipe coatingdisclosed in application for patannular surfaces, left bare during theoriginal' coating tofacilitate coupling and tube late coated in thefield, are indicated at 8.'

At one end. the pipe sections are: rotatably supported upon a cradle asat 9, and at the other end said sections restupon a similar cradleequipped with driving rollers 10 and rotation imparting devicesgenerally designated II.

The coating apparatus comprises the troughlike truck I2 supporteduponrollers l3 having mounting devices preferably of the caster type andincluding provision for adjustment to adapt the apparatus to the coatingof pipes of various sizes, internally or externally. see Figures- 2 and14.

One coating material found very effective in the coating or lining ofpipes, particularly'when they are intended for water conduits, isbituminous enamel. This material produces a smooth hard finish whichwill reduce to the minimum surface friction and permanently overcomesthe tendency toward tubercle formation. It is preferably applied at atemperature approximating 400 and for heating the, coating material the'truck is equipped with a,suitable. heating means generally designatedl4..

Supported upon the truck in any suitable manner, as at I5, andlongitudinally alined therewith, is .a coating applicator described indetail hereinafter and which embodies various features of the inventionherein claimed. A

I sociated with suitable position indicating devices moving andposition; indicating means may be employed. v

The novel applicator is in the nature-of an open trough-like body 22equipped, at a high point along one side thereof, with an overfl wopening 23 delivering into an applicator spout terminating in a lipwhich preferably extends to a point adjacent the surface-to-be-coated asshown in Figure 4. As will be observed by ref erence to Figure 4 of thedrawings, the walls forming the spout converge toward the lip to form agradual constriction.

By reason of the provision of the gradual'constriction in the spout, asort of'squeezing or pressure exertion takes place during the outflowingof the hot, viscid coating material which tends-to eliminate therefromany air bubbles which may have become entrapped therein, and since theentrance into the spout isvdisposed ad jacent the open top of theapplicator body the air thus eliminated from the outpouring mass mayreadily pass out into the surrounding atmosphere.

It will be noted by reference to Figures 5 and v '7- that the deliverypipe l6 extends a considerable distance into the lower portion of theapi plicator as indicated at 24, and that the lower portion or wall of'thepipe is angularly removed to provide a long, gradually wideningoutflow opening 25 designed to introduce the coating ma terial withoutturbulence. Obviously to sudden- 1y release or force the material intothe applicator, as by employment of arestricted outlet, or one cut offabruptly, would set up a turbulence which we avoid and which would beconducive to 'air bubble formation. Moreover, the provision of the noveloutlet at the bottom of the applicator, and the outflow opening 23adiacent the open top; any air bubbles entering at the low point wouldbe pressed out by the weight of the viscid mass and, rising in the hotliquid, would quickly-gain momentum and pass out at the top of the masswithout entering the spout,

-When it desired to coat the whole of the interior of the pipe,'asdistinguished from coating only the bare. spaces 8, it is possible tohold the applicator in one position during one or more revolutions ofthe pipe so as to provide a "transverse annular ribbon indicated at 26,and when this ribbon'is formed inwardly of the end of the pipe thedesiredtransverse cut off 21 will be provided leaving a bare space .28similar to those shown at 8 in Figure 1. After completion of thetransverse ribbon 26 the applicator may be moved-longitudinally withinthe rotating pipe so as to lay a helical ribbon, the individual helicesbeing so pitched as to overlap or shingle as at 29 with the ribboncentered on the terminal edge 30 of each previously laid helix asindicated at 3L pipe coating is fully disclosed in the methodapplication for patent hereinbefore referred to.

When working with hot bituminous enamel, as hereinbefore stated, it isdesirable to iron out or apply pressure to the coated surface so as tosmooth the same and remove therefrom all air bubbles such as might tendto provide surface imperfections. For-this purposean' ironer gen-'erally designated 32 may be employed. See Figures 2, 4, 5 and '7. Anefficient ironer suitable for this purpose is disclosed and claimed inapplication for patent Serial No. 108107, filed by David W. Boylan onOctober 28; 1936, and no claim to the ironer per se, is made herein. Inthis disclosure the ironeris generally shown as including a carrier 33and a shoe 34 removably secured thereto, thus adapting the ironer forcontact with the interior or exterior of pipe sections as illustrated inFigures 2, 4 and 14 0f the drawings. The ironer may be pivotally securedSee Figure 6. This method of as at 35 to the applicator, and suitablelift cords 36 may be provided, being attached to the carrier 33 andpassing over pulleys 31 secured to the applicator and thence out of theend of the pipe where they may be manipulated to lift the ironer off thecoated surface or lower the same onto said surface whenever desired;Suitableheating devices, preferably resistance heaters generallydesignated 38, are secured to the ap plicator, the lip thereof and theironer, as indicated in Figure 4, and are connected to a suitable sourceof current as indicated diagrammatically at 39, thus making it possibleto heat the flowing coating material and the ironing device tosubstantially the same temperature.

In Figures 8 to 13 we have shown the invention applied "to -'the secondform of apparatus -mentioned as adapted for practicing the method Theconduit 43 and the applicator 4| supplied therefrom are supported forlongitudinal travel backand forth by trackways 46, suitable casters 41being secured to the conduit in position to ride upon said trackways. Itshould be understood that the trackways 46 form the normal support forthe traveling applicator, but when said applicator is projected into theinterior of the pipe-to-be-coated, the casters 41 ride over the internalsurface of the pipe as illustrated in Figure 10, they being freeto adaptthemselves to the relative directions of travel of the pipe andapplicator parts at any given time.

It will be observedby reference to Figures 9 and 10. that an angle ironor support bar 48 is secured to the conduit 43 in any suitable manner asindicated so as to aid in supporting the applicator 4| and provide asupport for a pair of hanger rods 49 which are vertically-adjustablysuspended from the member 48 as indicated at 50.

The hanger rods are shaped to provide horizontal portions which arereceivable in bores provided in the mounting lugs or cars 5| whichproject from thecoating ironer mounted in cooperative relation with theapplicator. The lugs 5| include dovetail end portions which are slidablyadjustable as to position in a longitudinal dovetail groove 52 formed inthe carrier portion 53 of the ironer. See Figures 9 and 10. Each ofthelugs 51 is split as at 54 and equipped with a set screw 55 effectivewhen it is screwed home to spread the dovetail end of the lug and secureit in its adjusted position in the slotway 52. By this means it ispossible to adjust the ironer longitudinally upon the hanger rods 43,and by utilizing the adjustable connections 50. it is possible to adjustthe ironer vertically with respect to the supporting member 48.

The ironer shown in this form of the invention forms the subject matterof a separate application for patent hereinbefore referred to and,asdisclosed in that application, embodies a heater unit of approvedconstruction generally indicated and through the medium of which heatmay be applied to the ironer.

As has been hereinbefore stated, selective shoes 51 may be attached tothe carrier portion 53 of the ironer so as to adapt it for use ininternal or external coating. The edge portions of the ironer arewell-rounded so as to assure against throwing up a wave ofcoatingmaterial in adtion of the hanger adjustments 50, to position the leadingend gf the ironer slightly higher than the trailing end' as illustratedand described in the separate application for patent hereinbeforereferred to.

' In this form of the invention asin the form previously described,provision is made for eliminating turbulence and air bubble accumulationresulting from this or other causes. In its speciflc construction theapplicator is in the form of an open trough-like body 53 having alongitudinal outlet 53 in one wall thereof adjacent the top edge andwhich delivers the coating material into the delivery spout 30projecting laterally from one wall of the applicator and which isgradually constricted from its entrance 59 down to the delivery lip 42in the manner illustrated in Figure 12 of' the drawings and for thepurpose of air bubble elimination hereinbefore described.

The delivery pipe 6| forming a continuation of the pipe line 43 isextended into and along the bottom of the applicator, as indicated inFigures 8 and 11, and the lower portion thereof is angularly cut out asat 62 so as to assureintroduction of the coating material into theapplicator without turbulence after the manner hereinbefore described indetail. To further assure elimination of air bubbles in the hot, viscidmass of coating material, the end walls of the applicator are flared asat 63 to facilitate rapid expulsion of any air bubbles which may beformed.

In order to provide for the proper heating of the supply pipe line 43,the applicator generally designated 4!, including the discharge lipthereof, and the ironer 51, the applicator has ailixed thereto a numberof suitably placed strip heaters 64, preferably of the resistance type.The pipe line 43 is equipped with a similar heater 85 which may becoiled spirally thereabout, and the heaters 64 and 55 are connectedtogether and with the heater 56 of the ironer in the manner generallyindicated at 68, and with a suitable source of electrical energydiagram.- matically illustrated at 41.

By properly moving the particular form of applicator along the pipesurface in the manner described in the applications for patentshereinbefore referred to, and while the pipe is being rotated, a thickvelvety ribbon of hot bituminous enamel will flow from the applicatorand be applied to the pipe surface in the manner hereinbefore described.

In practice, the discharge lip of the applicator preferably is 20 to 24inches in length so that the coating material, flowing gently from said1p,'

will be deposited on the'pipe surface in the form of a thick velvetyribbon of hot bituminous enamel 20 to.24 inches wide. When the coatingmethod is carried out in accordance with the disclosure in the methodappl cation hereinbefore referred to, the applicator is drawn along thepipe surface a. distance just half the width of the ribbon or from 10 to12 inches for each fections.

The ironer preferably is from to 36 inches long, or half again as longas the applicator lip is wide. Thus from an applicator lip 24 incheslong and traveling longitudinally 12 inches for each revolution of thepipe, 2. 24 inch helical ribbon will be laid during a given flrstrevolution of a pipe. This will be ironed out or pressed by thefollowing ironer, At the next revolution another 24 inch ribbon helixwill be laid, one half of the width thereof being shingled over thepreviously laid heiix, and this second application will again be ironedout. As the device travels forward another 12 inches the ironer willpass over the completed coating a third time because of the fact that itprojects approximately 12 inches to the rear of the applicator lip asindicated in Figures 6, 8 and 9 of the drawings.

It is of course to be understood that the details ofstructureandarrangement of parts may be variously changed and modifiedwithout de= parting from the spirit and scope of our inven= tion.

We claim:

1. In pipe coating apparatua'a mobiie coating "applicator comprising acontainer body having a longitudinal overflow ep'enins, an applicatorlip over which coating material flows from said opening for gentledeposition onto the surface of the pipe-to-be-coated, and means tointroduce coating material into the applicator by a gradual release ofpressure to avoid turbulence.

2. In pipe coating apparatus, a mobiie coating applicator comprising alongitudinal npen container body having an overflow opening disposed ata high point along one side thereof, an applicator lip over whichcoating material flows, from said opening for gentle deposition. ontothe surface of-the pipe-td-be-coated, and means dis I gentie depositiononto the surface of a pipe beposed at a low polnt'in said body forintroducing coating materialthereinto by a gradual release of pressureto avoid turbulence.

3. In pipe coating apparatus, a mobile coating M applicator comprising alongitudinal open container body having an overflow opening disposedalong one side thereof in a direction paralleling the axis of a pipebeing coated, and a spout into which said opening-delivers having anoutlet lip likewise paralleling the axis of a pipe being coated and overwhich coating material flows for ing coated and being formed of wallswhich cenverge gradually from said opening to said lip whereby to forman air bubble eliminating constriction.

4. In pipe coating appafatns, a mobile coating applicator comprising alongitudinal open centainer body having an overflow opening disposedalong one side thereof, and a spout into which said opening delivershaving an outlet lip over which coating material flows forgentledeposition onto the surface of the pipe-to-be-coated and beingformed of walls whichconverge gradually from said opening to said lipwhereby to form an air bubble eliminating constriction, and means tointroduce coating into the applicator by a gradual release of pressureto avoid turbulence.

5. In pipe ceating apparatus, 'a mobilecoating applicator comprisingalongitudinal open container body having an overflow opening disposed ata high point along one side'thereof, and a spout into which said openingdelivers having an outlet lip over which coating material flows forgentle deposition onto the surface of the pipeto-be=coated and beingformed of walls which converge gradually from said opening to said iipwhereby to form an air bubble eliminating constriction, and meansdisposed at a low point in said body for introducing coating materialthereinto;-

6. In pipe coating apparatus, a mobile coating applicator comprising acontainer including wall portions defining a trough-like body and havinga longitudinal overflow opening, an applicator lip user which coatingmaterial flows from said opening for gentle deposition onto the surfaceof the pipe-to-be-coated, and means tn introduce coating material intothe applicator by a gradual release of pressure to avoid, turbulence, atleast one wall portion of said body being flared adjacent said openingto increase the volumetric capacity of the body and facilitate airbubble elimination.

' y 7. In pipe coating apparatus, a mobile coating applicator comprisinga container including wall portions defining a longitudinal'opentrough-like body and having an overflow opening disposed at a high pointalong one side thereof, and a spout into which said opening delivershaving an outlet lip over which coating material flows for gentledeposition onto the surface of the pipe-to-becoated and being formed ofwalls which converge gradually from said opening to said lip whereby toform an air bubble eliminating eonstrietion, and means disposed at a lowpoint in said body for introducing coating material thereinto, at leastone wall portion of said body being flared adjacent said opening toincrease the volumetric capacity of the body andfacilitate air bubbleelimination. Y

8. In pipe coating apparatus, a mobile coating applicator comprising acontainer body having a longitudinai overflow opening, an applicator lipover which coating material flows from said opening for gentledeposition onto the surface of the pipe-to=be-coated, means to introducecoating' material into the applicator E-y a gradual release of pressureto avoid turbulence, and

lmeans'ior applying heat to said body and said 9. In pipe coatingapparatus, a mobile coating applicator comprising a container bodyhaving a longitudinal overflow opening, an applicator lip over whichcoating material flows from said opening for gentle deposition onto.the'surface cf the pipe-to-be-coated, means to supple coating mat'erialand introduce the same into the applicator, and means for applying heatto said supply means, said body and saidlip.

10. A coating material applicator comprising an open trough-like bodyhaving a longitudinal overflow epening at a high point along one sidethereof, a delivery spout into which said. opening delivers and definedby gradually convergingan open trough-like body having a longitudinaloverflow opening at a high point along one side thereof, a deliveryspout into which said opening delivers and deflned by graduallyconverging walls to terminate in a constricted lip from which thecoating flows gently onto the surfaceto-be-coated, and a coatingmaterial introducing pipe extending into and along the bottom of saidbody and having formed therein a longitudinal delivery opening ofgradually increased size, walls of said body being flared outwardlyadjacent said overflow opening.

'12. A coating material applicator comprising an open trough-like bodyhaving a longitudinal tion of a coating applicator comprising alongitudinal mobile container body having a longitudinal overflowopening and an applicator lip over which coating material flows fromsaid opening for gentle deposition onto the surface oi theDlDe-tO-be-coated, and a coating ironer half again as long as said lipand supported in flxed relation to said lip for ironing out the coatingjust after it flows therefrom. r '14. In a pipe coating machine, theconibi'nation of a coating applicator comprising a longitudinalmobile-container body having a longitudinal overflow opening and anapplicator lip over which coating material flows from said opening forgentle deposition onto the surface of the pipe-to-be-coated, alongitudinal coating ironer supported in fixed relation to said lip iorironing out the coating just after it flows therefrom, and means formounting said ironer to permit longitudinal adjustment thereof relativeto said .lip.

15.Inapipecoating'machine,thecom tion of a coating applicator comprisinga longitudinal mobile container body having alongitudinal overflowopening and an applicator lip over which coating material flows fromsaid opening for gentle deposition onto the sin-face of theplpe-to-be-coated, a longitudinal coating ironer supported in flxedrelation to said lip for ironing outthecoatingiustafteritflowstherefrom, and means for mounting said ironerto permitlongitudinal and vertical adjusnnent thereof relative to said lip.

.. ialnapipecoatingmaehinatheeombination of a coating applicatorcomprising a longitudinal mobile container body having a longitudinaloverflow opening and an applicator lip over which coating material flowsfrom said opening for gentle deposition onto the surface of ..thepipe-to-be-coated, a longitudinal coating ironer supported in flxedrelation to said Up for ironing out the coating just after it flowstherefrom, and means for mounting said ironer to permit longitudinal andindividual vertical end adiustments thereof relative to said lip.

17. In a pipe coating machine, the combina-. tion of a coatingapplicator comprising a longitudinal mobile container body having alongitudinai overflow opening and an applicator lip over which coatingmaterial flows from said opening for gentle deposition onto the surfaceof v the pipe-to-be-coated, a coating ironer associated with saidapplicator for ironing out the coating just after it flows from saidlip, and means for heating the applicator and the ironer.

18. In a pipe coating machine, the combination of a coating applicatorcomprising a longitudinal mobile container body having a longitudinaloverflow opening and an applicator lip over which coating material flowsfrom said opening for gentle deposition onto the surface of thepipe-to-be-coated, a coating ironer associated with said applicator forironing out the coating just after it flows from said lip, and means forheating the applicator and the ironer to substantially. the sametemperature.

19. In apipe coating ;machine, the combina-. tion of a coatingapplicator comprising a longitudinal mobile container body having alongitu-' dinal overflow opening and an applicator lip over whichcoating-material flows from said opening for gentle deposition .onto thesurface of the pipe-to-be-coated, a coating ironer supported in 'flxedrelation to said lip and approximately half again as long as said lipwhereby to extend half a length beyond said lip at one end, and meansfor heating said applicator and said ironer.

20. In a pipe coating machine, the combination of a coating applicatorcomprising a longitudinal mobile container body having a longitudinaloverflow opening-and an applicator lip over which coating material flowsfrom said opening for gentle deposition'onto the surface of-thepipe-to-be-coated, a coating ironer supported in fixed relation to saidlipand approximately half againaslongassaidlipwherebytoextendhalfalengthbeyondsaidlip atoneend,meansfor adiustablysupporting saidironerfor longitudinal and independent vertical end adjustment relativetosaidlip.andmeansforapplyingheattosaid body,saidlipandsaidironer.

DAVID w. now. i cur-man I. m.

